Dan - Congrats. That was a beat-down. UCLA beats almost anyone else in the tourney, but simply can't match up to the Gators.

Anyways, and this isn't whining, but does it seem to you that this year's tournament games have suffered from an inordinate number of key players in foul trouble? Almost every game that has happened. Is it the style of play this year, or is it tighter officiating? Either way it has really defined a lot of games.

So here's the question. All this "teams are so much better this year" talk. Is that all a myth?

First, 3 of the best teams in the tournament last year turned around and made the final four this year. I understand that Georgetown and UCLA added pieces to make themselves better, and that the UF players (particularly Horford) have gotten better, but is taht improvement overestimated?

Second, people have been going on and on about the increased quality of play this tournament, but could you really tell a difference, quality-wise, between last nights games and last year's final four beatdowns? I was expecting a great matchup in the early game, and instead was treated to some ugly ugly basketball. It was still fairly entertaining to watch for a while, but no one would confuse it with great fundamental basketball.

I don't know. It's been bothering me all tournament. Maybe I just haven't watched enough basketball in my life to really tell the difference between good basketball and bad basketball, but at least last year games were competitive and exciting (until the final weekend). This year the boring first two weekends were supposed to lead to 3 great, well-played basketball games this weekend. I just don't see it.

I think so for sure. Enough people consider your reasons for being a UF fan tenuous enough that they'd readily believe you jumped ship. And God knows there are believable reasons you could have given: 1) Joakim Noah should have gotten three technicals last night, and finally got you on the haters' side; 2) College sports is supposed to be all about sponteneity and excitement, and one school winning the last three major titles would destroy that; 3) The referees have clearly been giving Florida the Dwyane Wade treatment, and that sort of blatant cheating has worn on you; 4) You come from a Big Ten school, and you realize now, at the end, that you just can't sell out your Big Ten roots this badly, and 3 months after doing it in football: Go Buckeyes.

I think it would have worked. And even if not, would have been worthy of a good chuckle.

U get pushed off the giant bandwagon? I was reading AOL sportsblog today and not knowing the date when I woke up they had an article on Kobe going for 97 and I almost died. They didn't say the April Fools day thing until after the jump but by then I was amazed. Yours not so much Dan

I agree this tournament hasn't been that special either. Doesn't have the upsets, buzzer beaters or great stories like Arizona in 97 where they stole america's hearts. I was ready for a great Final Four and those games were boring. Maybe the last few years have spoiled me but these last two final fours have been the worst in memory.

UCLA beat Kansas and Pitt, two of the top 15 teams in the country, and Florida totally dismantled UCLA. I have a hunch Oden will be in foul trouble early, and Brewer is going to lock down Conley/Lewis and this is going to be a huge blowout!

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DanShanoff.com is a sports-blog spin-off of my long-time ESPN.com column, "The Daily Quickie." Anchored by an early-morning post of must-know topics, the blog is updated frequently throughout the day with new posts and user comments.